EU countries push to ban outdoor smoking and vaping.

BRUSSELS, Belgium: European Union countries agreed on Tuesday to push for tougher anti-smoking laws, backing a ban on smoking and vaping in many outdoor areas, including playgrounds and cafe patios.

Health ministers of the bloc’s 27 countries meeting in Brussels adopted a recommendation calling on member states to crack down on second-hand smoke and vapors.

“Today’s agreement is an important step towards our goal of a tobacco-free generation in Europe, and is vital for protecting our children and young people from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke,” said the EU’s health commissioner. Oliver Worhely.

The recommendation is non-binding, as health is a competence of individual Member States.

But it does hint at policies that governments may adopt in the future as they seek to reduce the number of deaths and illnesses caused by smoking.

It passed with all countries voting in favor except Germany and Greece, which abstained, illustrating some political divisions on the issue.

Last week, the European Parliament voted against a similar text.

The document approved on Tuesday calls on EU countries to extend bans on cigarettes to cover “emerging products”, such as heated tobacco devices and electronic cigarettes, which are becoming increasingly popular among young people.

Governments must provide “effective protection” from aerosols emitted from indoor environments such as offices and public buildings. Following an initial proposal by the European Commission in September, the text states that such protection should also be granted in some external territories.

In practice this means banning smoking in all places, including swimming pools, beaches, zoos, rooftop bars and restaurant terraces.

The push comes as the European Union aims to reduce the number of smokers from 25 per cent to less than five per cent of the total by 2040, as part of its “Beating Cancer Plan”.

Statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that tobacco use is estimated to kill more than 8 million people worldwide each year, including about 1.3 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke. are victims of

According to the WHO, e-cigarettes typically contain nicotine and other toxic substances that are harmful, including to second-hand smokers. But treating smoking and vaping in the same way is controversial.

In a joint statement ahead of the vote, Italy and Romania said calls for a ban on outdoor vaping lacked scientific basis and should not have been included in the recommendation. Nevertheless, both countries supported the text.

Germany abstained, saying the matter fell under the competence of its regions — not the central government — and some opposed the ban on smoking on outdoor terraces and patios.